Penumbra

Case 2

Cameras of the forensic team flashed as the witnesses were herded away from the crime scene in preparation for questioning. Pierce was standing in the corner of the room, eyes glancing over the body and the witnesses; their suspects. He meandered towards the body, careful not to step in blood, or to knock anything over. Snagging a pair of gloves that were being handed out by the forensics, he pulled them on gingerly.
Glancing down at the body, it was female. Probably around her late 20's. He crouched down next to it. Her body was still soft, rigor mortis not having set in yet. Eyes dull and glazed, mouth open. He reached for her bag which had been knocked over when she had begun chocking. He pulled out the contents, finding a wallet, keys, a photo album and a camera. Tourist or photographer?
Opening the photo album there were various pictures, some of people and others of landscapes. He glanced back at her face, she appeared to be local. He'd have to wait for an ID on her. Opening the wallet, there was a driver's licence, medical card, money and business cards. Professional photographer then, and a local if her medical card and license were anything to go by. One Miss Haruka Amari. That gave them an ID and a family name to look for when they got around to contacting the family.
Gingerly, he placed the items in evidence bags and handed them over to the forensics. Pierce leaned close to the women, a faint scent of almonds washing over him, making him rear back as if he'd been burned. There was no mistaking that smell. Cyanide. He called over one of the ME's and told him what he'd noticed. The man nodded before calling over his co-workers.
Leaving them to do their thing, Pierce made his way over to where Inspector Fujikawa was singling out suspects with various questions.

"Pierce." A familiar female voice called out. He turned his head, eyes snagging on the woman who'd called out to him. He ambled over, dodging officers and reporters.

"Maiko." He greeted when he came to the booth where she was sitting.

"What happened to her?" She asked, gesturing to the body. She'd been around him too much to be bothered by dead bodies anymore. He glanced at the victim and his friend.

"Poisoned. I can't say anything else. Ongoing investigation and all that." He said, offering her a half shrug. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Can't or won't?" She tried, tilting her head in a way that he knew was contemplating on how to get information out of him.

"Both. If the Inspector caught me I'd be in trouble." He huffed, turning so that he could keep one eye on her, and another on the unfolding crime scene.

"He'd only yell at you a little. You're like a grandson to that grumpy old man." She laughed, earning a few disbelieving and disapproving glances. Pierce could understand, this was a crime scene, no laughing matter.

"He's just trying to rein in the collective insanity that happens around me," Pierce mumbled, turning away from her. Sometimes he wasn't sure if the reason he got the job was because of what happens around him, or they honestly believed in his abilities as a detective, especially since he was so young. Maiko snorted in amusement before waving at someone behind him. Pierce glanced over his shoulder and smiled at the aforementioned man.

"Evans." His superior greeted. Pierce bowed on principle before straightening and offering a hand to shake. The man huffed good-naturedly, before accepting the handshake and turning to the dead body.

"What do you make of this?" The Inspector asked, staring at the body.

"Haruka Amari. In late twenty's, female. Professional photographer. Poisoned with what is most likely to be cyanide," at the raised eyebrow, Pierce elaborated, "unless whatever poisoned her was purposefully scented with almonds, the only poison that comes to mind is cyanide."

"Hmm, anything else?" Inspector Fujikawa grunted, eying the body.

"I haven't had time to question suspects," Pierce answered, his gaze skittering from the body to the people being organised and moved towards more private areas so that they could begin to be questioned.